Hermit's Cave, Stone cave complex on Scenic Hill in Griffith, Australia

Hermit's Cave is a complex of rock shelters, dry-stone walls, stone stairways and terraced gardens stretching over a kilometre along the southeastern side of Scenic Hill. The main cave is a wide, rounded opening beneath a layered rock overhang, with a low stone wall below and a broad-leaved plant growing in front. Ricetti built a retaining wall 9 metres long and 2.4 metres high to create a level surface outside the cave.

Italian migrant Valerio Ricetti began building this stone complex in 1929 and continued until 1952, working alone over two decades. He assembled hundreds of tons of rock to create a complete residential system integrated into the natural landscape.

Ricetti etched two hearts and an anchor on the cave walls, an epitaph to his days aboard the riverboat Mary Anne. The site also holds painted rock murals, historic graffiti and the remains of his terraced gardens, where he grew plants beside three cisterns. He named the spot his "Garden of Eden".

The site is freely accessible with walking paths guiding visitors through multiple levels and sections of the complex. Wear sturdy shoes as stone surfaces are uneven and some pathways slope steeply.

Ricetti was not untrained: born in Sondalo around 1897-98, he was apprenticed as a cement and stonemason and worked on road and rail tunnels before migrating in 1914. He also etched two hearts and an anchor on the cave walls, an epitaph to his days aboard the riverboat Mary Anne.